# Augustín Cárdenas artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/augustin-cardenas/
Profile generated: 2026-05-04T20:53:00.000Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1927-04-10
- Death date: 2001-02-09
- Nationality: Cuban
- Movements: Surrealism
- Common media: sculpture

## About Augustín Cárdenas

Agustín Cárdenas Alfonso (1927–2001) was a Cuban sculptor who became a significant figure within the Surrealist movement during his decades in Paris. Born in Matanzas, Cuba, Cárdenas relocated to Paris in 1955, where he joined the circle of André Breton and other Surrealists. His sculptural language drew on the influence of Constantin Brâncuși, Henry Moore, and Jean Arp, blending organic and biomorphic forms with a distinct Caribbean sensibility. Breton famously described his artistic hand as "efficient as a dragonfly." Cárdenas worked across wood, bronze, and marble, producing sculptures that range from small tabletop pieces to monumental public commissions. He is represented in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is recognized in major library authority files including the Library of Congress, VIAF, and the RKD. He died in Havana in 2001.

## Common works and media

Cárdenas is best known for abstract and biomorphic sculptures in wood, bronze, and marble. Common subjects include organic pod-like forms, elongated figures, and Surrealist-inspired shapes that blend human and natural motifs. Collectors may encounter small-to-medium tabletop bronzes in numbered editions, unique carved wood sculptures, and occasional large-scale public or garden pieces. Drawings and works on paper related to his sculptural practice also appear on the market. His work bridges Latin American modernism and European Surrealism, making it relevant across multiple collecting categories.

## Market and appraisal context

Augustín Cárdenas maintains an established and internationally distributed auction footprint spanning 200 lots across 18 years (2007–2025), with 72 priced lots indicating meaningful liquidity. His work trades primarily at Sotheby's, Christie's, and Artcurial, with additional representation through Dorotheum, Piasa, Tajan, Freeman's | Hindman, Vanderkindere, and Fine Art Auctions Miami. Price dispersion is wide: the record range runs from €120 at the low end to €218,500 at the top, with a median of €14,000 and an interquartile spread of €800–€30,000. The highest recent result was a Sotheby's sculpture that realized $152,400 in May 2023; named works such as Narciso ($114,300, Sotheby's 2023) and a bronze Anele (€97,500, Artcurial 2017) underscore the premium for large or editioned bronzes from his Paris Surrealist period. Works on paper and small sculptures trade in a lower band (€650–€2,000), creating a clear tiered market. Auction activity has slowed in the most recent 12 months (0 lots), though 2 lots appeared in the prior 12-month window, suggesting normal market cyclicality rather than a structural decline. The breadth of houses and consistent appearance in Post-War and Latin American sales confirm Cárdenas as a recognized secondary-market name rather than an emerging or thin-market artist.

## Auction-house-backed market evidence

Augustín Cárdenas maintains an established and internationally distributed auction footprint spanning 200 lots across 18 years (2007–2025), with 72 priced lots indicating meaningful liquidity. His work trades primarily at Sotheby's, Christie's, and Artcurial, with additional representation through Dorotheum, Piasa, Tajan, Freeman's | Hindman, Vanderkindere, and Fine Art Auctions Miami. Price dispersion is wide: the record range runs from €120 at the low end to €218,500 at the top, with a median of €14,000 and an interquartile spread of €800–€30,000. The highest recent result was a Sotheby's sculpture that realized $152,400 in May 2023; named works such as Narciso ($114,300, Sotheby's 2023) and a bronze Anele (€97,500, Artcurial 2017) underscore the premium for large or editioned bronzes from his Paris Surrealist period. Works on paper and small sculptures trade in a lower band (€650–€2,000), creating a clear tiered market. Auction activity has slowed in the most recent 12 months (0 lots), though 2 lots appeared in the prior 12-month window, suggesting normal market cyclicality rather than a structural decline. The breadth of houses and consistent appearance in Post-War and Latin American sales confirm Cárdenas as a recognized secondary-market name rather than an emerging or thin-market artist.

### Appraisal notes

Appraisily would use these 200 auction records as comparable-sale evidence alongside physical inspection of the work. For an accurate appraisal, the following are needed: clear photographs showing the sculpture from multiple angles, measured dimensions, confirmation of medium (wood, bronze, or marble), the presence and location of signature or foundry marks, edition number and size if a bronze multiple, a condition report noting any repairs or surface degradation, and documented provenance tracing ownership history. Comparable lots should be filtered by medium, scale, and period — Paris-period bronzes and carved wood sculptures from the 1960s–1970s command the strongest prices. Works on paper and small studies form a distinct, lower-valued tier. Edition size materially affects value for bronzes; unique carvings carry a premium. The source pack's price distribution (€800 p25, €14,000 median, €30,000 p75) provides a benchmark range, but final valuation depends on the specific work's attributes and condition.

### Valuation factors

- Medium and material: bronze, carved wood, and marble sculptures carry different market values, with unique carvings and large bronzes at the premium tier
- Scale: monumental and life-size sculptures command significantly higher prices than tabletop or maquette-scale works
- Edition status: unique works carry a premium over numbered bronze editions; edition size and foundry marks should be verified
- Period of creation: works from the Paris Surrealist period (1955–1970s) tend to attract stronger bidder interest than later pieces
- Provenance and exhibition history: documented ownership through recognized galleries, estates, or museum loans increases value
- Condition: sculpture condition is critical — repairs, re-patination, or structural issues can materially affect value
- Work type: works on paper and small studies trade in a distinct lower band (€650–€2,000) compared to sculptures

### Collector notes

- The Cárdenas market is broad but price-sensitive: verify medium, edition number, and dimensions before purchasing, as the price range spans over 1,800× from low to high
- Major houses (Sotheby's, Christie's, Artcurial) regularly offer Cárdenas sculptures in Latin American and Post-War sales — these are the most liquid venues for resale
- Works on paper and small studies appear frequently but trade well below sculpture prices; ensure the purchase price reflects the correct category
- Recent auction activity has slowed (no lots in the trailing 12 months), which may present buying opportunities but also warrants patience when selling

### Market caveats

- Prices in the source pack span multiple currencies (USD, EUR); all comparisons should account for exchange-rate differences at the time of sale
- The 0-lot count in the most recent 12 months may reflect incomplete data ingestion rather than a true market absence; verify current listings on auction-house websites
- Attribution should be confirmed through documented provenance, catalogue raisonné consultation, or expert authentication — no published catalogue raisonné has been confirmed for this artist
- Auction results represent hammer or realized prices and may not include buyer's premium; actual transaction costs are typically 20–25% above the figures shown

### Market evidence sources

- Appraisily auction record index: https://appraisily.com/api/scraper-search/artists/augustin-cardenas/seo-profile?recentLimit=24&relatedLimit=0

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine verified artist identity research from museum records, library authority files, and biographical sources with auction records, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. For Agustín Cárdenas, identity data is grounded in the Library of Congress Name Authority File, VIAF, the RKD, and the MoMA collection record.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2748887
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agust%C3%ADn_C%C3%A1rdenas
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/95902098/
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr97034347
- The Museum of Modern Art: https://www.moma.org/artists/966
- RKD: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/131948